The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci – Facts about the Painting View Complete Works The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous works of art in the world. It is a large fresco style painting on the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy. It is not a true fresco because it was painted on a dry wall, instead of wet plaster. Unfortunately, because of the medium used, the work began to deteriorate fairly soon after it was painted, and so over the years numerous restoration attempts have been made to restore and preserve it. Although it took over three years to complete, da Vinci did not actually work on it continuously. No one knows the exact date of commencement due to lost and unreliable record-keeping. The Artist Leonardo da Vinci was arguably one of the greatest men to have ever lived. He was an artist, scientist, architect, author, engineer, inventor, and humanist. In essence, he was a Renaissance man. Da Vinci explored and delved into things which were many centuries ahead of him. He was born in 1452 near Vinci in Italy, and died in Amboise, near Tours France in 1519.

As one of the early Renaissance men, he was largely underappreciated in Florence, birth place of the Renaissance, and lived out his days under the appreciative arm of French King Francois I. His most famous painting, the Mona Lisa stands proud amongst the collection of the Louvre, along with many of his other works. The Last Supper The Last Supper is among his most famous works. It is a giant fresco like painting on the side of a wall in a dining hall of a monastery. The painting was commissioned by Sforza and is the perfect subject for a dining hall in a monastery. Da Vinci’s Last Supper is depicted in this ritual meal as a religious ceremony. Christ is very much the focal point of the entire piece and we have a sense of asymmetrical symmetry as he is flanked by his disciples. There are thirteen people in all (including Christ) and we can see, presumably the figure of Judas Escariot to the right of Christ, as he was still present at the meal. Some have theorized that Mary Magdalene was sitting to the left of Christ in the painting, but this is a contradiction since there had to be twelve disciples, and she was not one of them.

It is interesting to note, that with Christ as the center piece, how he is in fact well framed by the doorway. This provides contrast between his figure and the outside, as well as bringing out eye to the most important figure on the piece. His arms, head and body form a triangle, as well as the space on the left hand side between him and the figure to his left. The disciples are also nicely arranged into groups of three along the length of the table. One interesting fact is that there are lines of perspective that radiate from Christ’s head, indicating that he is the focal point of the painting. These perspective lines blend in with the ceiling and walls. The painting also makes us feel as if we too are a part of it. This formula has been copied and become the standard for symbolic paintings from then on. The Story The Last Supper is the final meal Christ had with his disciples before he was arrested which ultimately crucified. The scene we are shown is when Christ tells his followers that he is to be betrayed and that he will be leaving them very soon. In the groups of three, we see the reactions from the apostles to the news. From the far left, we have the first group who all look surprised.

No doubt, all would be thinking that they would never betray the Messiah. The next group, it is likely that Judas is the one holding what appears to be a bag (perhaps of silver?). Behind him is likely Peter, Jesus’ number one disciple who appears angry at the news. And the other person is likely one of the younger apostles, as he appears to swoon. Many have suggested that this is Mary Magdalene, perhaps inspired by the famous Da Vinci Code book. To the right of Christ, the next group of apostles appears to perhaps be questioning Christ as to the suggestion of betrayal, while the group on the far right is likely discussing loudly regarding the news. Restorations Around sixty years after da Vinci had completed the piece, it started to deteriorate. The figures had already begun to appear quite unrecognizable. In the 18th century, a large curtain had been erected to protect it, but this only made it worse due to the moisture and water it trapped. The first attempt at restoration was made in the early 1700’s, but this did not go well. Around fifty years later, this restoration work was stripped and a new attempt was made.

However, due to public outrage, this attempt was halted as the restorer had repainted all but three of the disciples’ faces. Over the next couple of centuries, other minor attempts were made to restore it, but it wasn’t until 1978 that a major restoration attempt was made, with modern methods, along with new understanding of the reactions of the elements to the piece. This restoration took around 20 years to complete and it too attracted controversy due to the brightness of the new colors and several forms had changed from the original. Summary To this day, The Last Supper remains one of the greatest legacies of da Vinci. Despite the second-hand restorations, the piece is still amazing to see, and provides an inspired look into the genius of the great da Vinci. It was also a painting that would inspire new artists to aspire to, in terms of perspective and presentation. It certainly was a turning point in art history that directed art onto a newer and more realistic path.

8 responses to “The Last Supper” 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci - About.com About.com 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci 10 Common Questions About 'The Last Supper' Answered The Last supper, by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Leemage/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Updated September 21, 2016. Why Did Leonardo da Vinci Paint "The Last Supper"? Da Vinci untertook this massive project because his employer requested he do so. Leonardo da Vinci worked for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for nearly 18 years (1482-99). The Duke decided he wanted this particular religious scene of Jesus and the Apostles at the Last Supper painted, and Leonardo, who was not stupid, decided painting it made perfect financial sense. How Big Is "The Last Supper"? The painting is huge, really -- 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 feet). It covers an entire large wall, very unlike reproductions sized to hang neatly behind one's sofa. Where Is the Painting Located?

The original of the "The Last Supper" is on a wall of the refectory (dining hall) in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. If you'd care to see a reproduction, they're easily found. As an image, "The Last Supper" is the most reproduced religious painting of all time and has been put on everything from mirrors, to mouse pads, to musical pillows. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance If Leonardo were still around, he'd be earning billions of (insert your currency here) on licensing fees alone. How Long Did It Take Leonardo To Paint "The Last Supper"? He began working on it in 1495, and finished "The Last Supper" in 1498. This is worth noting, as Leonardo was a known procrastinator with a marked tendency to leave projects unfinished. Why Is the Composition Remarkable? First, "The Last Supper" is remarkable because the disciples are all displaying very human, identifiable emotions. The biblical scene had certainly been painted before. Leonardo's version, though, was the first to depict real people acting like real people.

Secondly, and of major importance -- the technical perspective in "The Last Supper" is incredible. You can see that every single element of the painting directs one's attention straight to the midpoint of the composition, Christ's head. It's arguably the greatest example of one point perspective ever created. What Does "The Last Supper" Depict? "The Last Supper " is Leonardo's visual interpretation of an event chronicled in all four of the Gospels (books in the Christian New Testament). The evening before Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples, he gathered them together to eat, tell them he knew what was coming, and wash their feet (a gesture symbolizing that all were equal under the eyes of the Lord). As they ate and drank together, Christ gave the disciples explicit instructions on how to eat and drink in the future, in remembrance of him. It was the first celebration of the Eucharist , a ritual still performed. Specifically, "The Last Supper" depicts the next few seconds in this story after Christ dropped the bombshell that one disciple would betray him before sunrise, and all 12 reacted to the news with different degrees of horror, anger, and shock.

Who Are the People Dipicted in "The Last Supper"? Looking across the picture from left to right: Bartholomew, James Minor and Andrew form a group of three. All are aghast, Andrew to the point of holding his hands up in a "stop!" gesture. Judas, Peter and John form the next group of three. Judas, you will note, has his face in shadow and is clutching a small bag (of silver?). Peter is visibly angry and a feminine-looking John seems about to swoon. Christ is the calm in the midst of the storm. Thomas, James Major and Philip are next. Thomas is clearly agitated, James Major stunned and Philip seems to be seeking clarification. Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon comprise the last group of three figures. It appears that, when a situation turns ugly, Simon is the "go to" guy for explanations. Why Is the Painting Falling Apart? Leonardo, always the inventor, tried using new materials for "The Last Supper." Instead of using tempera on wet plaster (the preferred method of fresco painting , and one which had worked successfully for centuries), he thought he'd give using dry plaster a whirl.

His experiment resulted in a more varied palette, which was his intent. What he hadn't taken into account (because, who knew?) was that this method wasn't at all durable. The painted plaster began to flake off the wall almost immediately, and people have been attempting to restore it ever since. Why Doesn't Jesus Have Feet in "The Last Supper"? Rest assured, Leonardo intended for Christ to have feet and, in fact, painted them. Around 1650, some unnamed, woefully misguided soul -- on a mission to insert another door into the refectory -- apparently decided that the only logical spot for said door was smack dab in the middle of that wall. We probably shouldn't grumble and just consider ourselves lucky that he wasn't engineering windows. I Heard This Story About "The Last Supper." Is It True? Do you mean the story in which Leonardo first paints Jesus Christ, after searching many months for the perfect model? And then, years and years later, after painting all 11 other disciples, has an even more grueling search for the perfect model for Judas? And -- amazingly -- the same person ends up being the model for both? That story?

No, it's not true, and for so many reasons (all of which are detailed in a piece at Snopes ). It's a neat bit of fiction, though, complete with a moral. THE LAST SUPPER: famous paintings Home Hidden Meanings Bible study: The Last Supper The Gospel Text Jesus , sensing his imminent arrest, had a last meal with his friends. He predicted his betrayal and death, and described how Peter and Judas would fail him. Then he asked the disciples to remember him whenever they celebrated a similar meal. This event is called the Last Supper . (Below) A section of the Epitaphios of Thessaloniki. An epitaphios was a woven and embroidered cloth used in solemn liturgical ceremonies. This particular cloth shows superb handling of gold and silver thread and silk thread of other colours. Priests used it in the ' Great Entry', when it was laid on the heads and shoulders of two or three priests, who then walked towards the altar carrying the eucharistic bread and wine. It shows the Last Supper: Christ offers wine to his apostles.

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper, Joos van Cleve , detail Communion of the Apostles, James Tissot The Last Supper, Pierre Dancart , Seville Cathedral The Last Supper, Hans Holbein the Younger , 1524 The Last Supper, Phillippe de Champaigne The Last Supper, Fra Angelico , 1522 The Last Supper, Passion Cycle , Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, 1150-1200 The Last Supper, Simone Martini , 1333 The Last Supper, Dieric Bouts the Elder, 1464 The Last Supper, Nikolai Gay, 1863 The Last Supper, Meisters des Hausbuch s The Last Supper, Nicolas Poussin, 1640's Hidden meanings in the Last Supper paintings Scenes of the Last Supper were ideal for churches with a wide altar space; the artist could show all 13 figures at a table.

Look for Peter and John on either side of Jesus, and Judas, usually shown standing or sitting slightly apart from the other apostles and sometimes holding a purse of money, isolated or is in the act of leaving the table. Judas is sometimes shown with a dog at his feet, which is difficult to account for since the animal normally symbolizes fidelity. After the Counter-Reformation there might be with additional figures - servants going in and out with dishes, or angels hovering overhead. Three moments in the meal are most often depicted: Christ's washing the feet of his disciples; his revelation that one of the disciples, whom he did not name, would betray him; and the communion of the Apostles. Upon Christ's revelation of the betrayal to come, the Apostles are sometimes shown with querying expressions as they point to themselves and ask, "Master, is it I?" In early paintings the apostles recline, propped on the left elbow, leaving the right arm free - this was the later Jewish custom in observing the Passover ritual. Originally the Passover meal was taken standing, just as the Israelites stood to eat in haste on the eve of the exodus.

In Roman times a recumbent position at meals was the mark of the free man and was more appropriate to the Jewish festival of freedom. The sacramental interpretation of the Last Supper was eclipsed at the end of the 15th century by Leonardo da Vinci who turned away from doctrine to depict the human drama that sprang from Christ's announcement that he would be betrayed by one of those present. In representations of the announcement of the betrayal, there is no chalice. Christ sits at the centre of a long table, his hands outspread in a way that seems to imply resignation. Judas is distinguished in several ways. He may be sitting on the opposite side of the table from the rest and may be in the act of taking the sop of bread from Christ, or he may be dipping his own hand into the bowl.

The Bible text - the Last Supper Matthew 26:17-30 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'" 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover. 20 When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; 21 and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. 24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!

It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You have said so." 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29 I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 Mark 14:12-26 12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?" 13 And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the householder, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. 17 And when it was evening he came with the twelve.

18 And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." 19 They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" 20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25 Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Luke 22:7-39 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." 9 They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" 10 He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, 11 and tell the householder, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." 13 And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover.

14 And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

22 For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this. 24 A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 "You are those who have continued with me in my trials; 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." 33 And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me." 35 And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." 36 He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one.

37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was reckoned with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its fulfilment." 38 And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough." 39 And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. John 13:21-30 21 When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.

23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; 24 so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks." 25 So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.

The Last Supper home » Art » special topics » The Last Supper The Last Supper On the evening before his death, Jesus calls his disciples together for supper, which will be his last. Before the meal he washes the feet of everyone attending. During the meal Jesus discloses the fact that he will be betrayed by one of his twelve followers. He shares the bread and wine, generally considered symbols for his body and blood. The Last Supper is described most clearly in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. Duccio's Last Supper (1308-11) This dramatic gathering has been a source of inspiration for the visual arts. The first paintings of The Last Supper were quite static - as can be seen in the works of Duccio (1308-11) and Ghirlandaio (1480). All figures are nicely seated in their chair, despite the fact that they have just learned of their master's coming betrayal. Domenico Ghirlandaio's Last Supper (1480) A difficult problem for all painters of the tableau is the grouping of the figures. Duccio chose a reasonably credible one: everyone is seated around a table.

A drawback of this grouping is that the faces of some of the followers are not visible. Ghirlandaio has them seated behind a long table opposite the traitor Judas, who sits alone. Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper (approx. 1495-98) Leonardo da Vinci effected a breakthrough with his Last Supper (approx. 1495-98). Not only is Judas fully included in the group, but the figures are engaged in lively interaction. Da Vinci's fresco inspired numerous Renaissance artists and Baroque painters. Despite many restorations, the most recent in 1999, the work is in bad condition, due to the technique used on the wall, which has insufficient sticking power. In addition, the hall was used as a stable for some time, and bombed during World War II. Some details: Leonardo has Peter holding a dagger with which he will later cut off a soldier's ear. Three disciples are missing from Holbein's painting (1524-25). They may have been lost when the work was damaged during the Reformation's Iconoclasm in Basel.

At the same occasion, Jesus' head was sawed from the altar piece (to be put back later). Holbein chose approximately the same grouping as Leonardo, but uses a smaller table and different facial expressions. A common aspect of both paintings is Peter whispering in John's ear. De Juanes (approx. 1560) has Judas (extreme right) holding a purse. While the followers are still stunned with the news of the betrayal, Jesus has begun sharing the bread. Both in Ghirlandaio's and, with some effort, in Leonardo's painting, a purse may be discerned. Il Tintoretto (1594) created a magical atmosphere by having angels hover over the table. Rubens created several versions. On the one shown here (1632) Judas is the only one looking more worried than shocked. The reclining figure in Duccio and Ghirlandaio is John (ref. John 13:23 ) - Jesus' favorite. Duccio's work is part of his Maest� and shows Jesus offering Judas a piece of bread. The Catholic Church annually commemorates the Last Supper as the Holy Supper, on Maundy Thursday.

The Last Supper in other languages: Dutch: het Laatste Avondmaal 15 Things You Should Know About 'The Last Supper' | Mental Floss 15 Things You Should Know About 'The Last Supper' Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is one of the most admired, most studied, and most reproduced paintings the world has ever known. But no matter how many times you've seen it, we'll bet you don't know these details. 1. It's bigger than you think. Countless reproductions have been made in all sizes, but the original is about 15 feet by 29 feet. 2. The Last Supper captures a climactic moment. Everyone knows the painting depicts Jesus' last meal with his apostles before he was captured and crucified. But more specifically, da Vinci wanted to capture the instant just after Jesus reveals that one of his friends will betray him, complete with reactions of shock and rage from the apostles. In da Vinci's interpretation, the moment also takes place just before the birth of the Eucharist, with Jesus reaching for the bread and a glass of wine that would be the key symbols of this Christian sacrament. 3.

You won't find it in a museum. Although The Last Supper is easily one of the world’s most iconic paintings, its permanent home is a convent in Milan, Italy. And moving it would be tricky, to say the least. Da Vinci painted the religious work directly (and fittingly) on the dining hall wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie back in 1495. 4. Although it’s painted on a wall, it's not a fresco. Frescos were painted on wet plaster. But da Vinci rejected this traditional technique for several reasons. First off, he wanted to achieve a grander luminosity than the fresco method allowed for. But the bigger problem with frescos—as da Vinci saw it—was that they demanded the painter rush to finish his work before the plaster dried. 5. Da Vinci used a brand new technique on his future masterpiece. In order to spend all the time he needed to perfect every detail, da Vinci invented his own technique , using tempera paints on stone. He primed the wall with a material that he hoped would accept the tempera and protect the paint against moisture. 6. Very few of da Vinci's original brushstrokes remain.

Although the painting itself was beloved, da Vinci's tempera-on-stone experiment was a failure. By the early 16th century, the paint had started to flake and decay, and within 50 years, The Last Supper was a ruin of its former glory. Early restoration attempts only made it worse. Vibrations from Allied bombings during World War II further contributed to the painting's destruction. Finally, in 1980, a 19-year restoration effort began. The Last Supper was ultimately restored , but it lost much of its original paint along the way. 7. A hammer and nail helped Da Vinci achieve the one-point perspective. Part of what makes The Last Supper so striking is the perspective from which it's painted, which seems to invite the viewer to step right into the dramatic scene. To achieve this illusion, da Vinci hammered a nail into the wall, then tied string to it to make marks that helped guide his hand in creating the painting's angles. 8. Renovations eliminated a portion of The Last Supper. In 1652, a doorway was added to the wall that holds the painting.

Its construction meant that a lower central chunk of the piece—which included Jesus' feet—was lost. 9. The Last Supper's Judas may have been modeled after a real criminal. It is said that the look of every apostle was based on a real-life model. When it came time to pick the face for the traitorous Judas (fifth from the left, holding a bag of telltale silver), da Vinci searched the jails of Milan for the perfect looking scoundrel. 10. There may be a biblical Easter Egg here. To the right of Jesus, Thomas stands in profile, his finger pointing up in the air. Some speculate that this gesture is meant to isolate Thomas's finger, which becomes key in a later Bible story when Jesus rises from the dead. Thomas doubts his eyes, and so is entreated to probe Jesus' wounds with his finger to help him believe. 11. The meaning of its food is up for debate. The spilled salt before Judas has been said to represent his betrayal , or alternately, is seen as a sign of his bad luck in being the one chosen to betray. The fish served has similarly conflicted readings .

If it is meant to be eel, it might represent indoctrination and thereby faith in Jesus. However, if it's herring, then it could symbolize a nonbeliever who denies religion. 12. It's inspired some wild theories. In The Templar Revelation , Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince propose that the figure to the left of Jesus is not John, but Mary Magdalene, and that The Last Supper is key evidence in a cover-up of the true identity of Christ by the Roman Catholic Church. Musicians have speculated that the true hidden message in The Last Supper is actually an accompanying soundtrack. In 2007, Italian musician Giovanni Maria Pala created 40 seconds of a somber song using notes supposedly encoded within da Vinci's distinctive composition. Three years later, Vatican researcher Sabrina Sforza Galitzia translated the painting's "mathematical and astrological" signs into a message from da Vinci about the end of the world. She claims The Last Supper predicts an apocalyptic flood that will sweep the globe from March 21 to November 1, 4006. 13. The Last Supper also inspired popular fiction. And not just The Da Vinci Code.

A pervasive part of the painting's mythology is the story that da Vinci searched for ages for the right model for his Judas. Once he found him, he realized it was the same man who had once posed for him as Jesus. Sadly, years of hard-living and sin had ravaged his once-angelic face. As compelling a story as this is, it’s also totally false . How do we know this story isn’t true? For one thing, it's believed that da Vinci took about three years to paint The Last Supper, mostly due to the painter's notorious tendency to procrastinate. For another, stories of spiritual decay manifesting itself physically have long existed. It's likely that someone along the way decided to saddle The Last Supper with a similar narrative in order to give its moral message a sense of historical credibility. 14. It's been mimicked for centuries. Fine art and pop culture have paid tribute to The Last Supper with a cavalcade of imitations and parodies. These range from a 16th century oil painting reproduction to new interpretations from Salvador Dali , Andy Warhol , Susan Dorothea White , and Vik Muniz , who made his out of chocolate syrup.

Recreations of The Last Supper's distinctive tableau can also be found in the Mel Brooks comedy History of the World, Part 1 , Paul Thomas Anderson's stoner-noir Inherent Vice , and Luis Buñuel's Viridiana, which was declared "blasphemous" by the Vatican. It's also been a plot point in The Da Vinci Code and Futurama . 15. Want to see The Last Supper in person? Better book (way) in advance. Though The Last Supper is one of Italy's must-see sites, the convent in which it is located was not built for big crowds. Only 20 to 25 people are allowed in at a time in visiting blocks of 15 minutes. It is recommended visitors book tickets to see The Last Supper at least two months in advance. And be sure to dress conservatively, or you may be turned away from the convent. More from mental_floss...

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) See works of art Works of Art (9) Essay Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is one of the most intriguing personalities in the history of Western art. Trained in Florence as a painter and sculptor in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio (1435–1488), Leonardo is also celebrated for his scientific contributions. Leonardo’s curiosity and insatiable hunger for knowledge never left him. He was constantly observing, experimenting, and inventing, and drawing was, for him, a tool for recording his investigation of nature. Although completed works by Leonardo are few, he left a large body of drawings (almost 2,500) that record his ideas, most still gathered into notebooks. He was principally active in Florence (1472–ca. 1482, 1500–1508) and Milan (ca.

1482–99, 1508–13), but spent the last years of his life in Rome (1513–16) and France (1516/17–1519), where he died. His genius as an artist and inventor continues to inspire artists and scientists alike centuries after his death. Drawings Outside of Italy, Leonardo’s work can be studied most readily in drawings. He recorded his constant flow of ideas for paintings on paper. In his Studies for the Nativity ( 17.142.1 ), he studied different poses and gestures of the mother and her infant , probably in preparation for the main panel in his famous altarpiece known as the Virgin of the Rocks (Paris, Louvre). Similarly, in a sheet of designs for a stage setting (Allegorical Design, verso, 17.142.2 ), prepared for a staging of a masque (or musical comedy) in Milan in 1496, he made notes on the actors’ positions on stage alongside his sketches, translating images and ideas from his imagination onto paper.

Leonardo also drew what he observed from the world around him, including human anatomy , animal and plant life, the motion of water, and the flight of birds. He also investigated the mechanisms of machines used in his day, inventing many devices like a modern-day engineer. His drawing techniques range from rather rapid pen sketches, in the Head of a Man in Profile to Left ( 10.45.1) , to carefully finished drawings in red and black chalks, as in the Head of the Virgin ( 51.90 ). These works also demonstrate his fascination with physiognomy, and contrasts between youth and old age, beauty and ugliness. The Last Supper (ca. 1492/94–1498) Leonardo’s Last Supper, on the end wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, is one of the most renowned paintings of the High Renaissance. Recently restored, The Last Supper had already begun to flake during the artist’s lifetime due to his failed attempt to paint on the walls in layers (not unlike the technique of tempera on panel), rather than in a true fresco technique .

Even in its current state, it is a masterpiece of dramatic narrative and subtle pictorial illusionism. Leonardo chose to capture the moment just after Christ tells his apostles that one of them will betray him, and at the institution of the Eucharist. The effect of his statement causes a visible response, in the form of a wave of emotion among the apostles. These reactions are quite specific to each apostle, expressing what Leonardo called the “motions of the mind.” Despite the dramatic reaction of the apostles, Leonardo imposes a sense of order on the scene. Christ’s head is at the center of the composition, framed by a halo-like architectural opening. His head is also the vanishing point toward which all lines of the perspectival projection of the architectural setting converge. The apostles are arranged around him in four groups of three united by their posture and gesture. Judas, who was traditionally placed on the opposite side of the table, is here set apart from the other apostles by his shadowed face. Mona Lisa (ca.

1503–6 and later) Leonardo may also be credited with the most famous portrait of all time, that of Lisa, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, and known as the Mona Lisa (Paris, Louvre). An aura of mystery surrounds this painting, which is veiled in a soft light, creating an atmosphere of enchantment. There are no hard lines or contours here (a technique of painting known as sfumato—fumo in Italian means “smoke”), only seamless transitions between light and dark. Perhaps the most striking feature of the painting is the sitter’s ambiguous half smile. She looks directly at the viewer, but her arms, torso, and head each twist subtly in a different direction, conveying an arrested sense of movement. Leonardo explores the possibilities of oil paint in the soft folds of the drapery, texture of skin, and contrasting light and dark (chiaroscuro). The deeply receding background, with its winding rivers and rock formations, is an example of Leonardo’s personal view of the natural world: one in which everything is liquid, in flux, and filled with movement and energy.

Carmen Bambach Department of Drawings and Prints, The Metropolitan Museum of Art October 2002 Citation Bambach, Carmen. “Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519).” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. (October 2002) Further Reading Bambach, Carmen C., ed. Leonardo da Vinci, Master Draftsman. Exhibition catalogue.. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003. Additional Essays by Carmen Bambach Bambach, Carmen. “ Renaissance Drawings: Material and Function .” (October 2002) Related

Question: Who painted 'The Last Supper'?
Answer: Leonardo da Vinci